Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-05-21
ROYAL LADIES.
-Four Queens Described, One Of Them In
vefy UncompIImsntary Terms.

after all, than other women, and some
of those now reigning may even be
classed among the very plain-women,
says writer IN the New York Mail and
Express. Not even the most regal of
their state garments could make them
anything else. The idea that patrician
blood shows in the beauty and grace Of
the royal ladies is great mistake, for
it is quite the contrary, as far as have
seen, and the bluer the blood the uglier
the queen. In Vienna, at their great
exposition, were gathered a number of
the then reigning ladies Of Europe, and
had several views of those who were
there. The first glimpse had at all of
royalty was of ex-Queen Isabella of
Spain. l was in the Turkish section
when I noticed coarse, fat, elderly
woman, plainly dressed and vulgar in
every movement, come waddling along.
She was shaking all over like bowl Of
jelly, and looking keenly about her with
beady eyes, while behind her walked
youth hardly come to manhood's age.
He wore stovepipe hat and Prince
Albert coat, and appeared to be mod
est fellow with little taste for display.
The ex-queen wore black lace over
dress over black silk. The silk was cut
low in the neck and with short sleeves,
after the fashion then prevailing in
Vienna, and the other dress was high
in the neck and with long sleeves. She
wore q black lace bonnet with long
streamers of ribbon behind, and mass
of red roses mingled with the lace, and
she had some very beautiful diamonds
in her ears and at the throat She went
about cheapening everything and look
ing for some Turkish rugs to buy, but
she seemed to think that the price was
raised on account of her royalty, and in
loud aside in French she spoke to her
young son, saying that evidently they
intended to make her pay too much,
and that he must come there the next
morning wearing plain suit and a
cap, so that they should not know him,
and get the carpets at lower price. l
saw this same queen at the opera soon
after in all the glory of full dress, and
she made, to my thinking, one of the
most revolving sights 1 ever witnessed.
The aged and amiable empress of Prus-
STA made short visit to Vienna during
the exhibition, but she appeared no.
where in public except as she rode from
the station to the palace with her VEN
cradle husband. She sat leaning far
back in the open carriage, and as the
horses dashed by she left but confused
remembrance of frail but sweet face,
mild eyes, and womanly grace. She
was wrapped in shawls, although the
weather was very warm, and she ap-
peared to be very thin.
The empress Of Austria and Queen
Olga of Greece are the two beautiful
women of all that l saw, and whatever
their station in life they would still be
called so. The empress of Austria seems
to be too active woman for the close
confinement and rigid dignity that 9TH
or queens think necessary, and she goes
and comes as she likes, rides and walks
abroad without let or hindrance, and
very simply. On state occasions, when
there is public parade, or anything
like that the streets are cleared by SOL
diers, who take positions on each side.
These streets have been previously swept
and sprinkled, and no vehicle or per-
son can travel there until after the
pageant has passed. Then after hours
of patient waiting in the hot sun, with
eyes half blinded by the white reflection
of the houses and streets, there will be
dash and flash of glittering uniforms,
clash of sabers and spurs and trample
of prancing steeds, and magnificent
open barouche comes into view with
tableau of soldiery looking man in his
uniform with jewels and decorations
blazing all over his breast, and by his
side vision Of beauty dressed in the
national colors.
As this radiant picture comes into
view there is bust of cheers and well
come from all people. The poorest and
the richest alike shout with spontane-
ity that is born of true affection for
the beautiful empress, at least Behind
their carriage is another. smaller one,
with young man and young girl,
the children of the royal couple, and
they receive as many plaudits and good
wishes as their parents, and then, be-
fore one hardly has seen them, the
whole is gone and the crowds are let
loose to fill the streets or go to work
again.
One day in the exposition the empress
walked about without ceremony or fuss,
with few of her ladies. She was dress
ed in lilac muslin trimmed with lace,
and certainly looked not an hour over
rs. Her tall fonm was as liths and
graceful as girls and her matchless
eyes, hair, and lips would make the
beauty Of any woman. The expression
of her face was simply enchanting. Aft
: er walking about until she was tired,
she took her seat in one of those rolling
chairs, and the driver rolled directly
over my foot could not repress
slight expression Of pain, which the en-
press heard, and she made as many
apologies as should have thought
necessary had / squeezed her royal toes.
Then she chatted several minutes in a
perfectly unreserved manner with me,
and said some day she might visit
America, as she always longed for a
ride on the prairies. / saw her at the
opera afterward in full dress, with dia-
monds and pearls, and her exquisite
neck and arms bare, and she was posi-
lively dazzling.
Queen Olga is Of another type, but
equally handsome. She is stouter and